Golf Swing Training Apparatus

ABSTRACT

Improved golf swing apparatus and methods that include a short shaft (preferably about 13 inches) training club having a training grip and a club head that gives instant visual feedback on swing alignment to a user during the motion of swinging. A bubble or spirit level and light-emitting end of the shaft provide further feedback on a user&#39;s swing alignment in terms of correct wrist and shaft position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The embodiments described herein relate to improved swing alignment aides and like apparatus for helping a golfer to attain a consistently correct swing.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is difficult for a golfer to determine, just by looking at the wrists when lining up the shot and swinging, whether the hands, wrists, and forearms are aligned to result in a hook shot, a slice, or a square shot.

Somewhat complicated golf swing training devices currently exist. Many, for example, utilize a golf training apparatus configured to aid a golfer in developing a consistent golf swing by including golf club guide shafts and/or attachment to a golfer's limbs. Often, these devices are large, complex, and/or not portable in other respects (e.g., requiring other equipment or electronics that are difficult to move).

Other golf swing aids require another person to watch the swing and the device in order to correct the swing. For example, U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2008/0119299 to Merrill describes a device to be inserted between the golfer's forearms during the swing. The device includes color regions to be observed during the course of the whole swing: both color regions are visible when aligning with the ball, swinging the club backwards until only one color region is visible, and then swinging the club until only the second region is visible. These color regions can only be observed by a third party, or recorded and then played back. The golfer cannot observe the color regions on his or her own during the course of the swing.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for improving a golfer's swing that is simple, small and easily carried, and capable of being used without the assistance of a third party.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments herein generally relates to improved golf swing apparatus and methods that involve a short shaft (preferably about 13 inches) training club that gives instant visual feedback to a user during the motion of swinging.

In one aspect, embodiments pertain to a golf club with an about 13 inch shaft that includes a training grip (such as the training grip sold under the TACKI-MAC brand name) and a club head of any desired type. In the address position when a golfer starts the takeaway and reaches hip height in the backswing, the club head should be toe up and square. With the aid of the training grip, the golfer's hands will be in the proper position to the club face. When this position for the club head and golfer's hands has been obtained, the golfer's feet, hips, arms, and shoulder turn will all have begun on the correct swing path for the back swing.

Because the golf club shaft is so short, the close distance between the correctly positioned hands on the training grip of the shaft and the club head allow for instant feedback when the golfer's swing is out of the correct position (i.e., the club head will not be toe up and square when the club is at hip height between the forward and backswing). Through such a design, it has been found that swing mechanics can be correctly monitored and repeated by an individual golfer because the club head is relatively close to the user's eyes such that it's position is more readily seen during the act of swinging. In addition, the more a golfer can see and feel what correct swing mechanics entail, he can likely repeat same more readily with his regular club. Moreover, the apparatus can be used anywhere and at anytime because the golfer has just one component that allows the practice of swing mechanics at full speed without any risk of harming objects out of arms reach or damage to a prized full-size club.

In another aspect, embodiments pertain to swing aid apparatus that include the structures herein described above and additionally a bubble or spirit level co-axially within the shaft, a laser-generation means positioned to emit a laser light from the grip end of the shaft, or both a level and a laser-generation means.

Still other embodiments relate to methods for receiving instant visual feedback on a user's swing alignment utilizing the club embodiments described herein.

Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will become clear from its description in the specification that follows. Therefore, to the accomplishment of the objectives described above, this invention includes the features hereinafter fully described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, and particularly pointed out in the claims. However, such description discloses only some of the various ways in which the invention may be practiced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts in plan view a first embodiment of the inventive training aid.

FIG. 2 depicts in plan view a second embodiment of the inventive training aid.

FIG. 3 illustrates in plan view a third embodiment of the inventive training aid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning to FIG. 1, a golf swing training aid 2 is shown that includes a shaft 4 having a club head 6 at a first end 8 and a training grip 10 at a second end 12. The shaft may be between 10 and 18 inches in length. Preferably, the shaft is about 13 inches in length (not including the club head).

As shown in FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the training aid in FIG. 1 further includes a bubble or spirit level 20 incorporated co-axially within the shaft 4 such that it is visible to a user when the club head 6 is in the toe up position during a swing motion. Also, the level 20 preferably is disposed within about one inch of the club head 6 such that both the club head and the level's bubble are visible to the user at the same time. This construction allows a golfer to visually ensure in an instant that his or her hands, wrists, and club head are all in alignment by virtue of the training grip, level and shortened shaft to the club head, respectively. In other words, the addition of the level 20 supplements the swing alignment feedback given by the training grip and club head position by showing whether a user's wrists are straight (i.e., the bubble of the level is centered) or curved (i.e., the bubble of the level will be off center).

Turing to FIG. 3, a third embodiment is illustrated whereby the shaft 4 further includes a laser-generation means 30 positioned at an end of the training grip such that laser light is emitted from the second end 12 of the shaft 4. The emitted light allows a user to follow the path of the grip-end of the shaft.

In an exemplary method embodiment, a user instantly receives visual feedback on a his or her golf swing alignment by gripping a training grip of the golf club shaft having a club head at a first end and the training grip at a second end, wherein the shaft is between about 10 and about 18 inches in length; and observing a position of the club head during an act of swinging the shaft. Depending on the embodiment, a user would also receive instant feedback on the position of his or her wrists (through the level incorporated coaxially about an inch from the club head) and/or his or her shaft position (through the light emitting means, e.g., a laser light emitter).

Various changes in the details and components that have been described may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the invention herein described in the specification and defined in the appended claims. Therefore, while the present invention has been shown and described herein in what is believed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures can be made there from within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent processes and products. All references cited in this application are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf swing training aid, comprising; a shaft having a club head at a first end and a training grip at a second end, wherein the shaft is between about 10 and about 18 inches in length.
 2. The training aid of claim 1, wherein the shaft is about 13 inches in length.
 3. The training aid of claim 1, wherein the shaft further includes a bubble or spirit level incorporated co-axially within said shaft and within about 1 inch of the club head.
 4. The training aid of claim 1, wherein the shaft further includes a light emitting means positioned at an end of the training grip such that light is emitted from the second end of the shaft.
 5. The training aid of claim 3, wherein the shaft further includes a light emitting means positioned at an end of the training grip such that light is emitted from the second end of the shaft.
 6. A method for instantly receiving visual feedback on a user's golf swing alignment, comprising the steps of: gripping a training grip of a golf club shaft having a club head at a first end and said training grip at a second end, wherein the shaft is between about 10 and about 18 inches in length; and observing a position of said club head during an act of swinging said shaft.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the shaft further includes a bubble or spirit level incorporated co-axially within said shaft and within about 1 inch of the club head such that a user observes a level position in addition to said club head position during said act of swinging.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the shaft further includes a light emitting means positioned at an end of the training grip such that light is emitted from the second end of the shaft and a user observes shaft position based on said light during said act of swinging. 